2003-2007 strategic plan
Environmental context
The department's objectives and strategies for education in Queensland reflect Government policy priorities and respond to a number of key challenges emerging from the broader environment.
Government priorities | Key challenges
The Department of Education produces six outputs including: Preschool Education, Primary Education, Secondary Education, Students with Special Needs, and Portfolio Services Assistance to Non-State Education, Portfolio Services Assistance to Tertiary Institutions. All outputs contribute to each of the Queensland Government's policy priorities.
The Department of Education plays a key role in achieving the Government's Smart State vision for Queensland. It ensures that Queenslanders receive a quality education that equips them to:
- successfully make the transition from school to further education and training or work;
- engage in lifelong learning;
- contribute to the economic, social and cultural development of Queensland's society.
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Queensland schools and universities contribute to safer and more supportive communities by promoting harmony and understanding. By developing the skills and understanding of students, they foster inclusive and tolerant behaviour and contribute to the prevention of social ills such as racism and crime.
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As a focal point within communities, schools and universities support civic and social cohesion. They contribute to community identity and capacity by providing safe gathering places, links to other organisations and services, and access to resources and development programs. Schools and universities recognise and value the diversity of their communities and, in partnership with them, contribute to a socially just society.
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Schools and universities contribute to the social, economic and cultural development of communities, particularly in regional areas. The delivery of schooling and higher education in rural and remote areas supports the development of regional capability. By providing major capital works initiatives, information technology infrastructure and employment opportunities, schools and universities support the economic development of Queensland's regions.
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School curriculum programs foster an appreciation of the environment and an understanding of the relationship between local environments and global ecological issues. Initiatives such as the environmentally sustainable schools project, and energy saving devices in new and refurbished facilities also help to preserve the environment.
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Education is the foundation upon which community capacity and social and economic development is built. There is a link between people's educational attainment levels, their quality of life, and the future economic wellbeing of the state. In this context, key challenges for the department include:
A significant proportion of young people are not engaged in full-time education, training or work. People who do not complete at least Year 12 or an equivalent are increasingly susceptible to underemployment or unemployment and the associated social problems.
Education and training systems must provide responsive, flexible options to encourage young people to remain in learning. Successful implementation of Queensland the Smart State Education and Training Reforms for theFuture is essential to maintain young people's engagement in learning and improve their life chances. Improving the quality of state schooling will also contribute to the overall education outcomes of Queensland's education system.
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Young people come to education with a range of experiences, understandings, talents and skills. Factors such as poverty, geographic location, disability, culture and language can lead to the marginalisation of some groups in society resulting in educational disadvantage.
The education system, working collaboratively with the vocational education and training sector, must address the needs of students most at risk and provide supportive environments that are responsive to diverse social and cultural identities. Responsive programming and differential resourcing are required to enable quality education and training outcomes and equitable access to post-school pathways for all students, including those with particular gifts and talents.
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Queensland will need to provide services for an expected increase in student numbers due to changes in the school leaving age, the possible introduction of a preparatory year, and estimated future numbers of young people in Queensland. While the overall proportion of young people in the population is expected to decrease, actual numbers will increase as a result of migration to the state. As Queensland's university feeder population grows, demand for university places will also increase.
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Changing technology, career patterns and labour market trends, and the creation of new knowledge, mean that individuals will need to learn continuously and acquire new skills over an extended working life. Education and training providers in partnership with cultural bodies must provide young people with the skills and desire to manage their own learning over a lifetime and to participate in rapidly changing and global economies.
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Queensland must develop its skills base to attract new industries so that it remains competitive and so that high quality, well- paid jobs are available. To compete effectively with advanced economies, Queensland will need to:
- produce more tertiary graduates and people with high-level technical skills;
- attract skilled and knowledgeable people;
- equip individuals with the skills to innovate and create new opportunities and to take up roles in new industries.
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Research and development capacity is a key factor in attracting industry, creating new products and enterprises, providing new solutions to major issues in society, and boosting the quality and attractiveness of the higher education sector. For these reasons, fostering research and development, especially in Queensland universities, is an important priority.
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Education and training is expected to be a growing contributor to state domestic product and is a priority sector in Queensland's trade export strategy. However, Queensland will need to respond to predicted increases in competition from other nations for the student market and to the emergence of private companies as new competitors. As more interstate and international providers locate themselves in Queensland, maintaining quality standards will also be important.
Overseas students are being attracted to Queensland and, at the same time, Queensland students are travelling overseas as part of their education. With increasing opportunities for young people to participate in global education, the Queensland education and training system will need to build young people's capacity to interact with other peoples and cultures both here and overseas.
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